Rick Pitino takes up Mark Pope's offer for Kentucky vs. St. John's game

Rick Pitino continues to be publicly smitten with his old school after Kentucky opted to hire a former Pitino player, Mark Pope, for their head coaching job.

When Pope was initially hired, Pitino praised the decision and even pledged to donate to the Wildcats’ NIL fund, despite the fact he coaches at a Division I competitor to the ‘Cats with St. John’s. The Pitino-Pope connection is certainly strong, and Pope even suggested the idea of playing Pitino’s St. John’s club at his opening press conference.

Fans cheered at the idea of playing then Johnnies and getting a chance to honor Rick Pitino one last time. After that news reached Pitino, he tweeted out that he’d love a chance to get to play a home-and-home between Kentucky and St. John’s. Here was that post:

“Wow, just saw clips from our Captain’s press conference. Not shocked, but pleasantly surprised. Would expect nothing less from @CoachMarkPope. Also, St. John’s accepts, this year at UK, next year at the Mecca! Looking forward to saying goodbye to Kentucky.”

The 1996 National Championship was a big theme of Pope‘s introductory press conference on Sunday. Of course, Pitino was the head coach of Kentucky’s ’96 National Title team, helping deliver the Wildcats their sixth national championship. When Pope was asked about non-conference scheduling on Sunday, he couldn’t help but throw out the possibility of facing off with his former head coach.

“So anybody here down with a game vs. St. Johns?” Pope asked as fans erupted in Lexington. He then explained just how much Coach Pitino means to him.

“You know I neglected, and I’m actually so embarrassed, somehow I missed my notes,” Pope admitted. “I neglected to pay homage to Coach Rick Pitino. Every coach that has coached here has done amazing things, everybody’s contributed to Big Blue Nation. But Coach Pitino, he changed me.”

Pope played two seasons at Washington before transferring and joining Kentucky to sit one year and play two more, making for three unforgettable seasons.

“And I’m telling you, like he changed me to my soul, he changed my DNA as a human being, he allowed me now to be someone that can feel like I can walk into any room and take on any impossible task,” said Pope of Pitino.

“I will love him forever and so I say St. John’s just because I have so much admiration for him. He’s probably the best that ever did it and I love him so much.”